Mobile partition device for separating classes in a passenger compartment such as in an airliner

Abstract

The movable class-partitioning divider for an illustrative airliner passenger cabin comprises in particular: a device to lock said divider into a mooring adapter selected during the translation of the divider along a guide rail configured longitudinally in said cabin and unlocking it before such translation takes place; a device connecting at least one first connector, which is firmly affixed to a movable support mounted on a longitudinal rail solidly joined to the cabin, to a second connector solidly which is firmly affixed to said mooring adapter; a device operating said locking and connecting devices during translational operation; a device to preclude actuating said operating devices as long as at least the first connector is outside a given connection zone to said second connector firmly affixed to said mooring adapter. Application: passenger transportation.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A movable class divider in a vehicle passenger cabin comprising 
       a lock for locking the divider into a mooring adapter selected during said divider's translation along a guide rail running longitudinally in said cabin and for unlocking it before such translation takes place,  
       a connector for connecting at least one first signaling connector which is firmly affixed to a movable support associated with the translationally movable divider to a second signaling connector that is firmly affixed to said mooring adapter,  
       a driver for driving said lock and connector during the translational operations,  
       a stop for preventing activation of said drive as long as at least said first signaling connector is outside a given connecting position relative to said second connector.  
     
     
       2. The divider as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising at least one roller-fitted carriage having at least one roller or wheel for engaging a rail which is firmly affixed to the cabin and which is configured along a repositioning path of the divider. 
     
     
       3. The divider as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one roller-fitted carriage is mounted for translational movement perpendicular to the rail with a slide which is firmly affixed to an element of a framework of the divider. 
     
     
       4. The divider as claimed in  claim 1  further including an additional at least one roller-fitted carriage mounted in a stationary manner on an element of a framework of the divider. 
     
     
       5. The divider of  claim 1  wherein the lock comprises at least one inner bush biased toward the mooring adapter by a return spring and arranged to be driven by an operating handle. 
     
     
       6. The divider of  claim 1  wherein the connector comprises an external bush having an upper end affixed to a connector support displaceable within an aperture of an inner bush, said external bush being arranged to be driven by an operating handle between at least one disconnected position and an appropriate connected position. 
     
     
       7. The divider of  claim 6 , wherein the drive comprises a cam firmly affixed to a shaft which is connected to be moved by said handle, an end of the external bush opposite an end of the bush bearing the connector support being associated with a first cam follower, an end of the inner bush opposite an end of the bush arranged for contacting a mooring adapter selected along a repositioning path being associated with a second cam follower. 
     
     
       8. The divider as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the stop comprises a position detector associated with said mooring adapter selected along a repositioning path. 
     
     
       9. The divider of  claim 8 , wherein said detector comprises a stub projecting from an end of an inner bush, the stub being arranged to contact the mooring adapter selected along the repositioning path and to cooperate with a predetermined double-slope contour of a channel in a side opposite said mooring adapter, whereby the stub is arranged to be flush only when an end thereof opposite the inner bush is situated in a locking seat of said mooring adapter. 
     
     
       10. The divider as claimed in  claim 9 , further including a spring for outwardly biasing the inner bush, the spring being located between a bottom portion of said inner bush and an end of the inner bush opposite the stub, a pin for limiting movement of the spring within an external bush, the pin being displaceable in a t least one aperture of said external bush. 
     
     
       11. The divider as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the inner bush comprises a borehole containing a pair of half-shells arranged for assuming first and second positions; 
       the first position being such that the external bush and the support are firmly affixed to each other when the stub is not depressed due to detection of an appropriate connecting position, so that at the first position, at least one of the shaft and the cam is prevented from operating,  
       the second position being such that the external bush is disengaged from the support when the stub is depressed due to detection of another appropriate connecting position so that at the second position, at least one of the shaft and the cam is allowed to operate.  
     
     
       12. The divider as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the stub is integral with a narrow zone having two constrictions each arranged for receiving a pair of a high ball and a low ball seated in an inside surface of the half shells so that, when the stub is depressed flush with the end of the inner bush during detection of the appropriate position, the two pairs of balls are located in the constrictions of the narrow zone of the stub, the external bush including two seats for a pair of balls which are flush between an outer wall of the half shells when the external bush and the support are mutually firmly affixed, while being forced inward when the external bush and the support are disengaged. 
     
     
       13. The divider as claimed in  claim 12  further including two yokes situated opposite the pair of balls which are bore by the external bush, said yokes being arranged such that 
       the balls are forced inwardly to rest against the two half-shells when the external bush and the support are mutually disengaged, and  
       the balls are retracted within the yokes when the external bush and the support are firmly affixed to each other.  
     
     
       14. The divider as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the yokes are affixed by pins to covers in turn affixed to the body of the roller-fitted carriage to access to the devices precluding driving said operating devices. 
     
     
       15. The divider of  claim 1  further comprising 
       at least one rail extending longitudinally along a path of the moveable divider, a plurality of mooring adapters associated with said rail, each adapter being associated with said second connector and arranged for enabling said second connector to be connected with at least one of said first divider signalling and locking connector,  
       a central segment arranged to move along a ceiling of an aisle and bearing at least one roller-fitted carriage engaging said rail,  
       a pair of side arms one on each side of the central segment and integral with it.  
     
     
       16. The divider of  claim 1  further comprising, 
       at least one rail extending longitudinally along a path of the movable divider, a plurality of mooring adapters associated with said rail, each adapter being associated with said second connector and arranged for enabling said second connector to be connected with a least one of said first divider signalling and locking connector,  
       a central segment arranged to move along a ceiling which is above at least a row of seats and bearing at least one roller-fitted carriage engaging said rail,  
       a pair of side arms, one on each side of the central segment and integral with it and arranged to move along a ceiling of an aisle bordering said row of seats, and  
       at least one side arm affixed to the ceiling and situated above at least one row of seats and bordering one of said aisles.  
     
     
       17. The divider of  claim 1  further comprising, 
       at least one rail extending longitudinally along a path of the movable divider, a plurality of mooring adapters associated with said rail, each adapter being associated with said second connector and arranged for enabling said second connector to be connected with a least one of said first divider signalling and locking connector,  
       a central segment arranged to move along a ceiling which is above at least a row of seats and bearing at least one roller-fitted carriage engaging said rail, at least one side arm affixed to the ceiling and situated above at least one row of seats and bordering an aisle along the row of seats.